2.1 Meine Kindheit
Lektionsüberblick
With this lesson, you can start working on your origin story. That means, we will talk about where we were born, where we grew up, what our family looks like. We will also talk about typical childhood activities and outings. In the end, you will be able to 1) talk about the start of your life, 2) talk about early milestones and activies, and 3) talk about outings and activities “when I was little”.
1) Meine Familie
Read about Sofia, Kaja, and Leo and then answer the comprehension questions that follow.
Let’s practice how to talk about where and when we were born and where we grew up.
Jetzt bist du dran!
Wo und wann wurdest du geboren? Wie groß ist deine Familie? Following the models above, write about your origins, where and when you were born, and the size of your family. You can find more family vocabulary in Deutsch im Alltag I and Deutsch im Alltag II. Be sure to check the models for spelling and structures.
When you are done, practice your origin story until it flows like natural conversation. Then record yourself in your audio journal. As always, you are more than welcome to meet with a classmate and do your recordings together!
Deutsch IRL – Engage with authentic German content!
Geschwister: Wie Brüder und Schwestern sich beeinflussen, a 6.5 minute animated video on the long-term influences of sibling relationships.
Fünf Erziehungsstile und ihre Auswirkungen, a 6.5 minute animated video on the long-term influences of different parenting styles.
Kindheit in der DDR, a 58 minute documentary on childhood in the GDR, the German Democratic Republic.
2) Early Milestones and Activities
Listen and repeat what you see and hear in the presentation about early childhood below.
Let’s practice.
Learn more about the Germans and Kuscheltiere in the linked video and online exercises from the Goethe Institut. If you’ve already watched the video in class, the related online exercises are different from the in-class ones.
Jetzt bist du dran!
Wie war deine frühe Kindheit? Was hast du das Laufen und das Sprechen gelernt? Warst du in einer Tagespflege? Was waren dein Lieblingsspielzeug? Hast du immer noch dein Kuscheltier? Using the modeled language from the activity, write about your early childhood. When did you learn to walk and talk? Did you go to daycare? What were your favorite toys? Do you still have your stuffy?
When you are done, practice this edition to your origin story until it flows like natural conversation. Then record yourself in your audio journal.
Genf im Blickpunkt
Genf ist die zweitgrößte Stadt der Schweiz. In Genf steht der Palais des Nations. Dort arbeitet der europäische Hauptsitz der Vereinten Nationen. Mehr als 8.000 Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter aus über 100 Ländern sind hier tätig. Besucher können das Gebäude besichtigen und die berühmte „Assemblée Hall“ sehen.
Geneva is Switzerland’s second-largest city. Geneva is home to the Palais des Nations, the European headquarters of the United Nations. More than 8,000 employees from over 100 countries work here. Visitors can tour the building and see the famous Assemblée Hall.
3) Als ich ein Kind war, …
When talking about our childhoods, a typical phrase is “when I was a kid” (als ich ein Kind war) or “when I was young/little” (als ich klein war). This can be a tricky phrase for English speakers to learn – particularly when we lean too heavily on English as we speak German. (Although the German word wenn also means “when”, it primarily means “whenever”.)
We are going to practice this phrasing while talking about some typical early childhood outings (Ausflüge) and activities (Aktivitäten). Which ones resonate with you? Look through each slide and be sure to listen and repeat what you hear.
Let’s practice.
Jetzt bist du dran!
Welche Ausflüge und Aktivitäten hast gemacht, als du ein Kind warst? What outings and activities did you do as a child? Answer the question in your written journal, beginning each sentence with Als ich ein Kind war, …
When you are done, practice this edition to your origin story until it flows like natural conversation. Then record yourself in your audio journal.
Deutsch IRL
| More Playground and Zoo Info… |
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| Want to see more great playgrounds? Check out these top 10 lists! | Matschhosen-Video
Most children in German-speaking (and other, especially northern, European) countries have a set of Matschhose – waterproof pants made specifically so that they can play on the playground, whether it is wet or dry. Learn more about Matschhosen in this video from arte and the accompanying activities. |
Here are some additional authentic German sources:
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Jetzt bist du dran!
Welche Ausflüge und Aktivitäten hast du als Kind gemacht? What outings and activities did you do as a child? Answer the question in your written journal, using the words and phrases in the presentation as you model.
When you are done, practice this edition to your origin story until it flows like natural conversation. Then record yourself in your audio journal.
Before we wrap up this lesson, let’s read two more childhood stories and look more explicitly about the verbs used to describe the past.
Jetzt kombinieren!
Erzähl mal von deiner Kindheit! Imaging you are having a conversation with a potential new friend at the start of your study abroad program in Switzerland. This potential new friend (give them a name!) wants to know all about your childhood. What do you tell? What questions do they ask? Write out a dialogue in your journal, once again checking the models for spelling and structures.
When you are done, practice the parts of your origin story until it flows like natural conversation. Then record yourself performing the dialogue in your audio journal. As always, you are more than welcome to meet with a classmate and do your recordings together!
Media Attributions
- Geschwister: Wie Brüder und Schwestern sich beeinflussen, from Sprouts Deutschland licensed by CC BY 4.0 International license.
- Fünf Erziehungsstile und ihre Auswirkungen, from Sprouts Deutschland licensed by CC BY 4.0 International license.
- Kindheit in der DDR, from Staatsbürgerkunde licensed by CC BY 4.0 International license.
Media Attributions
- Private: 2030-2040 ch banner reduced size
- Photo of Palais de Nations, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
